Tobacco sheet



United States Patent ice 3,118,452 TOBACCO SHEET Raymond J. Moshy, Westport, Comm, assignor to American Machine and Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey N Drawing. Filed Apr. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 103,216 24 Claims. (Cl. 13117) This invention relates to reconstituted tobacco sheet products including tobacco substitutes. Tobacco sheet material of this type is suitable for cigar wrapper or binder, as filler for cigarettes and cigars, for pipe and chewing tobacco, as well as for other uses to which natural leaf tobacco may be applied.

In procedures for the formation of tobacco sheet by casting a tobacco dispersion into films and evaporating the liquid phase therefrom, various formulations have been proposed. Generally, in present procedures for making tobacco sheet, the tobacco, either as dust or finely ground particles is applied on to a moist substrate or suspended in a liquid vehicle as a slurry. The slurry is then cast on a sheet-forming belt, the tobacco layer is dried to form a self-sustaining sheet, and the sheet is then removed from the supporting endless steel belt. In the process of removal of the dried sheet, it has generally been necessary to remoisten the tobacco sheet substantially before it is released from the forming belt. Attempts to remove the tobacco web in the absence of rewetting have been generally unsuccessful. In such cases, the tobacco sheet has been damaged substantially, excessive wear of the doctor knife occurs and the whole operation is delayed. The extent of rewetting of the tobacco web to effect good release has required remoistening to water content of at least 20% and generally in excess of 25%. After the tobacco sheet is wetted to facilitate removal, it is subsequently necessary to redry the tobacco sheet to a commercially acceptable moisture content. In general, commercially employed tobacco has a moisture content of the following order:

Cigarette tobacco, in finished cigarettes, from about 9% to about 15%, preferably about11%14%.

Cigar tobacco, in finished cigars, from about to about 18%, preferably about 13 %17%.

Cigar filler, about %-30%.

Manufactured cigar binder, about 18%22%.

Cigar wrapper, about %50%.

In connection with the relatively high moisture content in cigar wrapper sheet, it is important to note that tobacco cannot be stored at these high moisture levels because of mold and other deterioration of the tobacco. Therefore, even these tobaccos are preferably produced so as to have a storage and shipping moisture of between about 10% and about 14%.

The advantages of a tobacco composition, which incorporates in the formulation 2. release agent, include easy removal of the formed sheet at a desired moisture level from the sheet-forming surface without remoistening and drying, greater uniformity in sheet appearance and savings on doctor knife wear. Another advantage is retention of desirable flavors and aromas which would otherwise be lost due to their entrainment with the liquid being vaporized as co-distillates, steam distillates or azeotropes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a self-supporting tobacco sheet composition which permits readly removal of the tobacco sheet from the sheet-forming endless belt.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a method of forming a self-supporting tobacco sheet material which incorporates a compound which greatly facilitates removal of the dried web from the sheet-forming surface without the necessity of rewetting the web.

A further object of the invention resides in the pro- 3i 58, 252 Patented Jan. 2 1, 19-64 vision of a class of belt-release agents for tobacco sheet which are wholly compatible with sheet formable tobacco compositions and which have no deleterious effect upon the use of the tobacco product.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the more detailed description of the invention progresses.

According to the invention, I have discovered that, by incorporating in tobacco sheet-forming compositions, a small amount of phosphatide which comprises preferably derivatives of lecithin, a wholly unexpected and advantageous property is imparted to the dried tobacco sheet. I have found that when from about 0.1% to about 16% by weight of the phosphatide, based on the weight of tobacco, is incorporated in the sheet-formable tobacco slurry composition, the resulting sheet may be dried to the moisture content desired for the marketable sheet while still permitting uniform release of the sheet tobacco from the endless web-forming belt. Preferably from about 0.2% to about 2% by weight of the phosphatide produces the desired effect.

When employed in the present specification, phosphatides will be understood to include, in addition to lecithin and derivatives of lecithin, other phosphatides that have chemical structural features similar to those present in lecithin.

For the purpose of this disclosure, the term lecithin is taken in the context of commercially available lecithin. Pure lecithin consists of glycerol combined with two fatty acid radicals, phosphoric acid and choline. Hence, there are many lecithins or phosphatidylcholines depending on the nature and disposition of the fatty acid groups. Nor mally, such derivatives of lecithin are very complex mix tures. Commercial lecithin is a mixture of phosphatides, including true lecithin and cephalin together with other components such as carbohydrates, glycerides, oils, and steriods, that occur with the phosphatides. Thus an approximate composition of soybean lecithin would include:

Constituent: Percent Phosphatidylcholine 21 Phosphatidylethanolamine 8 Phosphoinositides, lipositol, etc 2'0 Phosphatides, others 11 Soybean oil 33 Sterols, tocopherols, etc 2 Carbohydrates, free 5 Total According to the invention, modified commercial lecithins which have increased water solubility are the preferable phosphatides.

Included among the phosphatides which may be employed are those having the formula:

H2OO R1 IICOR H2UOR3 wherein R R and R are substituents selected from the group consisting of (a) hydrogen, (1)) fatty acyl radicals, (c) chemically modified fatty acyl radicals, (d) phosphate radicals and (e) phosphate ester radicals; at least one of said substituents is a phosphate ester radical and at least one a chemically modified fatty acyl radical. Phosphate radicals include salts thereof as well as phosphate radicals combined to form an ester with an alcohol.

In the above formula where any one of R R or R is a hydrogen atom, the compound will be called a phosphomonoglyceride. Where any two of R R or R are fatty acyle radicals, the compounds will be called phosphodiglycerides. The fatty acyle radicals contemplated according to the invention are those derived from fatty acids having a carbon chain length from about 12 to about 24 carbon atoms and including in the structure either saturated or unsaturated linkages, i.e., including saturated phosphoglycerides as well as unsaturated phosphoglycerides. The unsaturated phosphoglycerides may be a mixture of monodiand triglycerides fatty acid linkages and may also be in combination with the saturated glycerides.

Where R R or R is a phosphate radical, the compound is referred to as a phosphatidic acid. Esters derived from the phosphatidic acid are referred to as phosphatides. The phosphatide is a true lecithin when the alcohol moiety is choline. When the alcohol is an inositol, it is an inositide; and when the alcohol is aminoethanol, the phosphatide is a cephalin. Other minor alcohol compounds, including carbohydrates, sterols, etc., also contribute to the phosphatide composition. Commercial lecithin is a complex mixture of phosphoglycerides plus glyceride oils and carbohydrates, among which is an inositol, and refers to the complex mixture described above.

A preferred group of chemically modified lecithins are those having less than 50% of the double bonds, or unsaturated linkages, combined =with acyl groups and preferably from 225% are so combined with sulfate, including sulfonate; phosphate groups including phosphate ester groups; or nitrate groups, e.g. --SO -O-SO H, -O-PO3H2, ---02-"P(OH)2, -NO3. Preferably of the double bonds are chemically combined with substituents of this kind. The reaction product may subsequently be treated to form derivatives of salts of potassium, sodium, ammonium, barium and the like. In a strict sense, the nitrate-lecithin derivative, does not form a salt but a neutral derivative of the lecithinate.

The compositions of matter which have general utility in this disclosure may be broadly divided into weakly oxidized commercial lecithins and into ester derivatives thereof, and oxyalkylated lecithins. These three derivedlecithin groups are more water soluble than the parent lecithin mixture. It will be recognized that these derived lecithins are extremely complex products. For example, the weakly ozidized commercial lecithin, which is a hydroxylated lecithin, prepared by the methods in U.S. Patent 2,445,948 or 2,791,594, is a mixture of dihydroxylated, epoxylated and hydroxy acetoxylated lecithins, cephalins, inositides and trigylcerides. The sulfates or phosphates of such mixtures may be prepared, for example, according to U.S. Patent No. 2,791,594. These derived products are even more complex. In view of the complexity of the derived phosphatides, they are generally conveniently defined by describing their methods of preparation.

The invention herein disclosed may be employed in the various known procedures for producing sheet tobacco from a slurry of finely ground tobacco including the procedures disclosed in U.S. Patents 2,734,509, 2,734,510

and 2,734,513, wherein reconstituted finely divided tobacco materials are converted into sheet or strip material which can be used in the same manner as natural leaf tobacco in making products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipe togacco and the like. According to the procedure described in these patents, a reconstituted tobacco sheet is formed by depositing a dilute aqueous solution which preferably contains a surface active agent (and which may optionally contain tobacco therein) to which finely ground tobacco in dry form is then applied. The phosphatide of the invention is preferably incorporated in the web-wettin g aqueous solution. An adhesive film followed by a second layer of dry ground tobacco may then be applied to form a composite web. The tobacco dust adheres to the water solution on the belt and forms an integral part of the sheet of reconstituted tobacco material produced. Particularly advantageous results are obtainable using the present invention with the above referred to dust-on procedure for tobacco sheet production.

In preparing tobacco sheet material using a tobacco 4 slurry, the following illustrative general procedure may be followed.

Finely divided tobacco is mingled with an adhesive formulation to form a slurry or a suspension and the phosphatide is blended therein. The viscosity of the slurry is controlled by the relative amount of water, tobacco and adhesive used. To promote the mingling of tobacco particles, the release agent and film-forming agent, the mixture is agitated thoroughly until all the particles are completely wetted. Mixing may conveniently be done in a high shear mixer or a ball mill. In a ball mill, the relation of ball size and volume of the mixing chamber will depend upon several factors such as viscosity, particle size of to bacco and proportion of adhesive material solids to tobacco.

Alternatively, the tobacco particles and dry adhesive may be mixed together and added to a slurry of suitable fibrous material such as tobacco or paper pulp containing the phosphatide belt release agent. The product of either method may be applied to a continuous, substantially impervious belt using known techniques such as by casting, reverse roll coating, spraying or other conventional film-forming procedures to form a continuous film which is then dried and removed in a continuous sheet. The viscous slurry can also be shaped and formed into a sheet by suitable means such as by calendering or extrusion.

Drying the wet material is a part of the sheetforming operation and is necexary in some cases to achieve substantial water resistance. The moisture content of the sheet, according to the invention, can be adjusted by suitable control of the drying means so that the finished dried sheet contains the requisite moisture for its end use or for optimum storage composition without rewetting to moistures heretofore necessary for uniform release from the sheet-forming surface.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples. Parts expressed in the examples are parts by weight unless otherwise stated.

EXAMPLE 1 A slurry was prepared having the composition described below in which the quantities shown are in parts by weight on a bone-dry basis.

Adhesive 1.0 (0.5/0.5 guar gum/ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose). Sulfitc pulp 1.0 (2.5% pulp solids in aqueous suspension). Humectant 0.5 (glycerinc). Tobacco 7.0. Cross-linking agent 0.3 (glyoxal). Belt release agent 0.25%. Additives 3 0.44.

1 Canadian Standard Freenoss, 100 cc. '-Potassium salt of the phosphate derivative of hydroxylated lecithin, available commercially as Alcolec ITO-A10 from American Lecithin Co.

Includes about 0.40 part dlatoinaceons ash whitcucr and about 0.04 fungicide.

Eased on water in the total tobacco slurry. Slurry solids :1 /0.

These ingredients were formed into a slurry by dissolving the gum into the pulp suspension and adding the other ingredients with enough water to bring the solids concentration to approximately 10%. The slurry was formed into a film by casting it onto an endless steel belt. The tobacco slurry film was dried, adjusted to 14% moisture and doctored from the belt with no difficulty. The sheets had the physical properties set forth in Table I.

T able I Dry long. tensile strength, gm./in. width 680 Dry transverse tensile strength, gm./in. width 255 Wet long. tensile strength, gm./in. width 310 Wet transverse tensile strength, gm./in. width Elongation at break, dry, percent a- 6 Sheet wt., gm./ft. 2 4.77

In a comparative run in which the belt releasee agent, i.e., the lecithin derivative was omitted, it was necessary to remoisten the Web to 22-25% moisture before com' parable release of the tobacco sheet from the steel belt was possible.

EXAMPLE 2 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated using the formulations and obtaining the results set forth in Table II.

*Canadian Standard Frcencss 300 cc.

Includcs about 0.35 part pigments, 0.40 part diatomaceous ash whitener and about 0.04 fungicide.

gslufil-inated lecithin prepared according to Example 1 of U.S. Patent 2,7

Hydroxylated lecithin prepared according to Example 7 of U.S. Patent 2,701,594.

Each of these formulations resulted in tobacco sheets which are readily doctored from the steel Web-forming belt at moisture contents below Runs parallel to Zn and 2b, in which the belt release agent was omitted, required rewetting cf the belt to a moisture content of about 28% in each run before doc toring of the tobacco sheet from the steel belt, with comparable case, was possible.

Breaking length refers to the maximum length of film, which when freely suspended, will support itself.

EXAMPLES 3 AND 4 Following the procedure described in US. Patent 2,734,513, a tobacco sheet product is prepared by applying tobacco dust to a surface wetted with belt watercontaining belt release agent, then applying tobacco dust, a film-forming gum, and a second layer of tobacco dust in that order. First, the surface was moistened with a solution of release agent and a surfactant of composition as shown in Table II. Thereafter, tobacco is deposited, upon which a thin layer of suitable film of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is applied; and a further application of tobacco dust is applied to the exposed surface of the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose film. The product, which is then dried, consists of a central thin layer of a film-forming material having substantially permanently adhered thereto, on both of its surfaces, substantial quantities of tobacco dust.

The composition and properties of Examples 3 and 4 are provided in Table III. The procedure of Examples 3 and 4 was repeated but without the addition of the release agent to the belt water. The release, from the sheet-forming surface, is poor. Belt release at moisture levels below 27% is difficult. Below this moisture content (of 27%) the tobacco sheet does not release readily and it causes excessive doctor knife wear, necessitating knife changes every 15 minutes. Further, the scraping action of the doctor knife causes structural damage to the sheet resulting in lowered tensile properties and poor appearance.

The belt release agent may be used alone but preferred results are obtained when the belt release agent is used in combination with a surfactant. Suitable surfactants for this purpose, well known in the art, include such as the long chain fatty acid amides, alkyl sulfates, alkyl aryl sulfonates, polyoxyethylene derivatives and the like.

The sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) filmforming gum employed has a degree of substitution of between 0.50.8 carboxymethyl groups per anhydroglycose unit and a 2% viscosity in water of 400-1000 cps. at 25 C.

Table III FORMULA Example 3 4 Parts Parts Tobacco 8 Tobacco 8 Tobacco dust (-50 dust (-50 mesh, U.S. mesh, US. Standard Standard Screen) Screen).

Gum 1 N aCMO medium viscosity.

Pulp B 1 bright 1 bright stems unstems unwashed. washed.

Additives:

(A) Base web 0.3 glycerino 0.3 glycerine. (B) Belt Water 1.5 Alcolcc 0.4 Alcolce H0410. -410.

0.1 Antaron APPLICATION Base web solids (perceut) 5. 9 7. 40

Base Web viscosity (centipoise 6, 200 6. 200

Base web (gin/117?)... 2.0 2. 3

Underdust base web 6. 4 6. 82

Sheet (lull) (gm./ft. s. a

Belt speed, f.p.m 20 20. 3

Line moisture. percent 12. 5 15.85

Life of doctor knife (hours 1.78 6. 3

SHEET PROPERTIES Equil. moisture, percent 10. 4 12. 8

Long. dry tensile, g./in. width 250 285 Trans. dry tensile, g./in. widthu 258 232 Moisture content of sample time of test, percent 11.7 15. 2

Pulp frceness cc., Schopper-Riegler Frceness.

Potassium salt of the phosphate derivate of hydroxylated lecithin Commercially available from American Lecithin Co.

"Manufactured by Antara Chemicals Div. of General Aniline 00., a complex fatty amide emulsifier with 40% minimum activity, surfactant.

d Moisture content of the tobacco sheet at the time it is doctored from the sheet forming lines.

Run terminated-doctor knife still in usable condition.

COMMENTS.TeSt stoppedbelt water consumed.

EXAMPLE 5 Further illustration of this desirable effect of addition of's'mail amounts of phosphatide is afforded by the fol lowing example in which a formula similar to that used in Example 2 was employed. I

In run 5a the sodium salt of the phosphate derivative of hydroxylated lecithin is employed. In run 5b the ammonium salt of the phosphate derivative of hydroxylated lecithin is employed-in run 5c the dicyclohexylamine salt is employed. In each case amounts of 1.2% based on the weight of tobacco are used.

A product with the following properties is obtained:

Dry longitudinal breaking length, ft 2, 560 2, 380 2, 710 Dry transverse breaking length, tt 814 945 1, 270

Elongation c 5. 0 6.5 7. 3 Percent moisture needed to etfcct doctor'ing 16 14 17 Where the belt release agent is omitted, a moisture content of greater than 22% was necessary to obtain comparable release property.

In forming togacco sheet, the film-forming agent is known to be an important structural ingredient of the sheet. Accordingly, if the film-forming agent is weak or discontinuous, the sheet will crumble and disintegrate when handled in tobacco machinery. The film-forming agent should be easy to handle, should be chemically stable, should be in a convenient form, and should require little special treatment to prepare it for final use. When tobacco sheet material is fed from continuous rolls into automatic cigar making equipment, for example, its crimping and setting properties may be important. Tobacco sheet material made according to this invention produces desirable crimping and setting properties and conforms very satisfactorily when used in auto matic cigar making machines and other machinery for fabricating tobacco smoking articles.

Any of the various adhesive film-forming agents which are known and have been used in the art may be employed. In the finished tobacco sheet, the adhesive formulation may be between 0.5% and up to 100% of the weight of the tobacco but a preferred range is between 1% and 20%. The adhesive film-forming agent or binder is preferably selected to impart to the finished dry tobacco sheet material, a high degree of moisture resistance.

The preferred film-forming agents are polysaccharides, or water-soluble cellulose ethers or combinations thereof. For example, the galactomannans as guar or locust bean gum which are commercially available may be used; mixturcs of locust bean gum and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose; locust bean gum and carboxymethyl cellulose; locust bean gum and methyl cellulose; guar and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose or water-soluble salts of carboxymethyl cellulose and carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose and the like are suitable. When the adhesive filmforming agent is provided in the form of dry powder, particle sizes used in this invention are preferably similar in size to the tobacco particles, although they may be smaller. For example, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is a desirable film-forming material since the dried acidified form of carboxymethyl cellulose is substantially initially water-resistant. In addition to the other film-form ing materials such as viscose, the polyuronides, and the like when properly formulated, are other polysaccharides which can be used.

A cross-linking agent, such as glyoxal, dimethylol urea, melamine-formaldehyde resins or a dialdehyde polysaccharide as disclosed in US. Patent 2,887,414 may be added to improve further the water resistance of the filmforming agent. If desired, a humectant such as glycerine or triethylene glycol may be added to the film-forming surface. When a humectant is used, it has been found that the quantity thereof required to maintain a given degree of pliability in the final sheet varies as the ratio of fibers, tobacco and other additives, to film-forming agent, is changed. It is preferred to use a minor quantity of humectant to prevent excessive brittleness in the final film.

Natural gums have the disadvantage of not producing a coherent sheet or film when used as the sole adhesive with the rapid drying of the slurry required to maintain commercial operation. As a result, cracks form in the film during the drying operation so that small islands are formed on the belt and after drying small pieces flake off the web detracting from the uniformity desired. Drying cracks can be minimized by reducing the drying rate, but in so doing an uneconomical operation may result.

In order to eliminate the crack formation, thermogelling gums from the class of water-soluble cellulose ethers, e.g., methyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose are used in conjunction with the natural gums to form a suitable adhesive film-forming material. The gums function by gelling the film before significant evaporation of water takes place. The gel is firm enough so that stresses induced by shrinkage are resisted and cracks do not occur. Although the gums are effective for this phenomenon, they have shortcomings which include high price relative to the natural gums, difliculty in forming solutions and poorer reaction with the cross-linking reagents used to impart wet strength to the tobacco sheet. For these reasons, it is most desirable to eliminate or at least reduce the quantity of thermogelling gum required.

The finely divided or fragmented tobacco used in conjunction with the invention may be prepared by grinding or by otherwise comminuting tobacco leaf and stems. Fines which are residues from handling of tobacco and would otherwise constitute waste may be used advantageously. Tobacco sheet using entirely dry ground tobacco is preferred but the invention is not limited to this form. Tobacco which is entirely dry ground is tobacco which has not undergone comminution in the presence of excess liquid, such as a wet milling. Satisfactory tobacco sheets can be made from finely divided tobacco which will pass through a 20 mesh screen and will be mostly retained by a 325 mesh screen. A preferred particle size range is between 60 and 250 mesh. Tobacco sheet formed from small tobacco particles appear to burn more evenly than large particles.

The composition of the finished sheet is such that it has a tensile strength superior to that of natural tobacco leaf. Of course, the strength and sheet thickness may be adjusted for particular applications. A preferred sheet thickness range is between .002 and .011". Tensile strength may be, for example, at 12% sheet moisture about 400 grams per inch of width material .003 thick. The sheet is self-supporting and composed so that it is coherent even after immersion in water. In characterizing properties of the wetted web, its tensile strength is preferably such that one foot of width of the sheet material has a strength of at least about 400 grams.

Some inorganic fillers which may be used in powder form, for example, with tobacco sheet material are kaolin and fullers earth. Among suitable organic fillers are various cellulosic preparations known in the art such as paper pulp. Fillers may range from 2% to 15% or more by weight of the finished sheet. Various food dyes may also be used in manufacturing the tobacco sheets and foils to produce a desired color in the tobacco.

The tobacco sheet of this invention has many useful applications, and smoking articles such as cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco as well as chewing tobacco made in whole or in part from this sheet material are within the contemplation of the invention. The sheet material may be fed from rolls to automatic machines, for example, cigar machines, for use as binder or wrapper. The sheet may also be shredded for filler in pipes, cigarettes, and cigars. It may be mixed with shredded whole tobacco or used alone. It may also serve as an outside wrapper for cigars or cigarettes and has the advantage of uniformity in appearance and in physical properties as well as uniformly blended flavor.

While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details set out for purposes of illustration and that those skilled in the art may make various changes in these details within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A composition of matter comprising tobacco, at film-forming gum and from about 0.01 to about 15% by weight of a phosphatide.

2. A composition of matter comprising in combination finely divided tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05 to about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of tobacco and gum, of a phosphatide of the formula wherein R R and R are substituents selected from the group consisting of (a) hydrogen, (b) fatty acyl radicals, chemically modified fatty acyl radicals, phosphate radicals and phosphate ester radicals and at least one of said substituents is a phosphate ester radical and at least one is a chemically modified fatty acyl radical.

3. A composition of matter comprising tobacco, a

9 film-forming gum and from about 0.01% to about 15% by weight of a lecithin which is modified so that less than 50% of the double bonds are hydroxylated.

4. A composition of matter comprising tobacco, a filmforming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of a lecithin which is chemically modified so that less than 50% of the double bonds are converted into a mixture of dihydroxy, hydroxy-acetoxy and epoxy groups.

5. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05 to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the potassium salt of a hydroxylated phosphated lecithin.

6. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05 to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the sodium salt of a hydroxylated phosphated lecithin.

7. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the ammonium salt of a hydroxylated p'hosphated lecithin.

8. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the barium salt of a hydroxylated phosphated lecithin.

9. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the potassium salt of a hydroxylated 'sulfated lecithin.

10. -A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the sodium salt of a hydroxyl ated sulfated lecithin.

11. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the ammonium salt of a hydnoxylated sulfated lecithin.

12. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the barium salt of a hydroxylated sulfated lecithin.

13. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, at film-forming gum and from about 0. 05% to about of a modified lecithin comprising the potassium salt of a sulfonated lecithin.

14. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the sodium salt of a sulfonated lecithin.

15. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the ammonium salt of a sultonated lecithin. v

16. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% 10 of a modified lecithin comprising the barium salt of a sulfonated lecithin.

17. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the potassium derivative of a nitrated lecithin.

18. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the sodium derivative of a nitrated lecithin.

19. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the ammonium derivative of a nitrated lecithin.

20. A reconstituted tobacco sheet comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% of a modified lecithin comprising the barium derivative of a nitrated lecithin.

21. A composition of matter comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of the reaction product of (a) a lecithin which is chemically modified so that less than 50% of the double bonds are converted into a mixture of dihydroxy, hydroxy-acetoxy and epoxy groups and (b) a sulfating agent. 7

22. A composition of matter comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% by Weight of (a) a lecithin which is chemically modified so that less than 50% of the double bonds are converted into a mixture of dihydroxy, hydroxy-acetoxy and epoxy groups and (b) a sulfonating agent.

23. A composition of matter comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of (a) a lecithin which is chemically modified so that less than 50% of the double bonds are converted into a mixture of dihydroxy, hydroXy-acetoxy and epoxy groups and (b) a phosphating agent.

24. A composition of matter comprising tobacco, a film-forming gum and from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight of (a) a lecithin which is chemically modified so that less than 50% of the :double bonds are converted into a mixture of dihydroxy, hydroxy acetoxy and epoxy groups and (b) a nitrating agent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,168,532 McMath et a1 Aug. 8, 1939 2,559,481 Truesdell July 3, 1951 2,656,841 Gurley Oct. 27, 1953 2,708,175 Samfield et a1 May 10, 1955 2,733,174 Wagner Jan. 31, 1956 2,793,123 Haas May 21, 1957 2,845,933 Sa-mfield et al. Aug. 5, 1958 

2. A COMPOSITION OF MATTER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION FINELY DIVIDED TOBACCO, A FILM-FORMING GUM AND FROM ABOUT 0.05 TO ABOUT 10% BY WEIGHT, BASED ON THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF TOBACCO AND GUM, OF A PHOSPHATIDE OF THE FORMULA 